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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3483　21 February 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1517)　12 February 1951

PW was very cooperative and seemed sincere. He surrendered voluntarily, and information should be assessed accordingly.

I Corps: 8th Div, 47th Div and the 17th Div

8th Div: 1st, 2nd and 3rd (Code name: HOIF) Inf Regt, Arty Regt, Engr Bn, Sig Unit, Recon Unit, Med Unit, and “TOKCHON” Unit.

3rd Regt: 3 Inf Bn, Med Unit, Sig Unit, and “TOKCHON” Plat.

The TOKCHON unit was formed while the Div was in CHO’SAN to prevent desertions. It’s duties were to execute any stragglers or deserters. It usually followed in the rear.

Each Inf Bn: 3 Inf Co, 45mm Gun Plat, 82mm Mortar Co, EMG Co and AT Plat.

Each Inf Co: 3 Inf Plat and HMG Plat.

Each Inf Plat: 3 Inf Sqd.

Each Inf Sqd: 2 - 10 men.

1st Plat, 3rd Co:

1st Battalion strength was estimated to be approximately 500 troops up through Jan 51.

3rd Regt strength approximately 2,000 men Jan 51.

Division strength was heard to be 10,000 troops.

3rd Regt Hq located in a farm house in SIHUNG-NI (CS150464)

8th Div Hq located in SIHUNG, approx 8 km W of SIHUNG-NI.

The 1st Bn, 3rd Regt was in defensive positions on amountain S of SIHUNG-NI. 2nd and 3rd Bn were approx 1km to the rear of the 1st Bn, resting and regrouping. The 1st Bn was to attack or retreat, depending on the situation.

The 1st and 2nd Regiments were approximately 5 km to the rear of the 3rd Regt (North) in reserve.

The 47th Div was formerly located in INCHON, but when last heard it was in the vicinity of SIHUNG-NI, 6 Feb 51. It was heard that the 47th Div was to cover the retreat of the 8th Div.

The 8th Div was supposed to be resting during Jan and Feb 51 in SEOUL, but was rushed out to the front, 2 Feb 51.

Conscripted into the Volunteer Army 4 Aug 50 at his home in TOKSAN-MYON

Taken to SEOUL after conscription.

Boarded a train 10 Aug 50 arriving at KAESONG 11 Aug 50.

Departed KAESONG on foot 16 Aug 50 arriving at KUMCHON 16 Aug 50.

Departed KUMCHON 17 Aug 50 by train arriving at SOHUNG-GUN (BT 6562) 19 Aug 50.

PW and approx 3,000 “volunteers” received 10 days training at the YANYON training grounds.

The entire group departed SOHUNG 8 Sep 50 by train to SARIWON 9 Sep 50.

Departed SARIWON 9 Sep 50 on foot arriving at HAEJU 11 Sep 50.

800 of the former 3,000 volunteers arrived in HAEJU. Disposition of the others unknown.

The 800 recruits constituted the 6th Bn and were assigned to the Independent 97th Regt stationed at HAEJU

Sep 50, 5 other battalions of recruits were assigned to the 97th Regt. The Regt had 9 Inf Battalions, then.

97th Regt departed HAEJU 23 Sep 50 arriving at SONCHONG (BJ0648) Oct 50.

2 days after arriving SONGCHON, the 97th Regiment’s designation was changed to the NKPA 8th Division. (The 97th Regiment’s infantry battalions consisted of 4 Inf Companies, but were changed to 3 to each battalion when the 8th Div was formed.)

The 8th Division was supposed to undergo training hero, but could not and departed SONGCHON through mountains and secondary roads arriving at PYOKTONG (Manchurain-Korean border above CHOSAN) in Nov 50.

Remained there for 5 days. The Div received orders that they were not to withdraw further.

Division departed PYOKTONG in Nov 50 and marched to CHO’SAN (YE3724), arriving 2 days later.

Division underwent one month of training in this general area.

Before departing CHO’SAN 15 Dec 50, the entire Division was issued their weapons. Weapons were all new and were recently received directly from RUSSIA. The entire Division received new winter clothing, heard to be from CHINA.

Departed CHO’SAN 16 Dec 50, traveled over mountain trails, and arrived in UNSAN area, 20 Dec 50.

The main road was utilized from UNSAN. They passed through TOKCHON, SONGCHON and arrived PYONGYANG 20 Dec 50. Remained 5 days and departed PYONGYANG 25 Dec 50, passed through SARIWON on the main highway and arrived at KAESONG 27 Dec 50.

Departed KAESONG 2 Jan 51 and arrived at SEOUL 5 Jan 51, and engaged in rear echelon duties.

Departed SEOUL 2 Feb 51 and arrived in the SIHUNG area where the division was first committed to action.

PW deserted his unit 5 Feb 51 and surrendered with 4 others 8 Feb 51.

Up to the present time the 8th Division has suffered an estimated 15% casualties and 3% desertions. (PW learned that the 8th Division was a part of the I Corps with two other divisions (47th and 17th) while in PYONGYANG). Elements of the 47th and the 17th Divisions were seen marching southward from KAESONG.

While in SONGCHON, many new officers with combat experience and who had retreated from the NAKTONG River area, were assigned to the 8th Division. Promotions were frequent then. Former company commanders were promoted to battalion commanders, etc. Most of the officers were believed to have been remnants of the former 8th Division, which was rumored to have been annihilated in the NAKTONG River area.

While enroute, each man carried 5 days supply of food. Supply was replenished in villages and towns or foraged.

Two meals were received daily in insufficient amounts.

When PW was issued ammunition in CHO’SAN, and, while enroute, he was told that it was supposed to last him till this war was over.

3 Guns heard to be 120mm, were observed in the 3rd Regt CP area, alongside the main road in SIHUNG-NI. Guns were camouflaged with plants. 3 Russian trucks were observed nearby, probably used to pull the guns. Trucks were loaded with crates, believed to be ammo. (Observed 4 or 5 Feb 51).

Morale of the troops was high until SEOUL was reached. Since a majority were South Koreans, they were glad of being sent South. When the unit encountered casualties from artillery, morale dropped considerably. Many do not want to fight, but fear being excuted by the “TOKCHON” unit which followed in the rear of all units.

There have been approx 3% desertions in the division.

Regiments and higher units used wireless radios.

Companies and battalion were using telephones.

In exceptional cases, for platoons doing important duties, telephones were used.

One US PW was seen being led southward from a point of N of SONGCHON by one CCF guard, 17 Nov 50.

PW heard from a medical corpsman that approx 30 men died of eruptive typhus, contacted 8 Jan 51.

While enroute from KAESONG, PW noticed two cases of the typhus.

The troops boiled their clothing 10 Jan 51 to kill the lice or nits.

An undetermined number of typhus cases were evacuated to “HNKOL” a village near SEOUL. Medical facilities were very limited.

PW was a South Korean forced into the NKA, and he surrendered.

PW saw leaflets after he was captured 9 Feb 51.

For the AC of S, G-2: